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Versions of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android and iOS mobile devices, which had been scheduled for release late last month, are still not available. The Canadian company has said the new releases are not ready because of complications caused by the unauthorized leaking of an Android version.

BlackBerry has said in a statement that its teams “continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it’s ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM.” At its Web page for BBM, the company features an email signup to receive a notice when the software will be available for Android and iPhone.

In a September 23 posting on the official BlackBerry blog on Inside BlackBerry, BBM head Andrew Bocking said that the company was aware that an “unreleased, older version of BBM for Android” had been posted on numerous file sharing sites. He said that this unofficial version “impacted the system in abnormal ways” because it generated volumes of data traffic much higher than normal. The official version, Bocking added, will address such issues.

‘Only Way’

He indicated that BlackBerry attempted to address unspecified problems with the unauthorized version throughout Saturday, September 21, the day that the Android version was scheduled for release. But, Bocking said, “as active users of the unreleased app neared a million -- and accelerated -- it became clear that the only way to address the issue was to pause the rollout for both Android and iPhone.”

The BlackBerry development team, he reported, is now working to completely block this authorized version when the official Android version goes live, and to make sure it is reinforced to handle such situations in the future. He also said that, while it might sound like a simple task, “it’s not.”

According to reports on the Web, BBM for Android and iOS are now in new, closed beta testings. There have also been rumors that BlackBerry intends to drop the Android and iOS versions altogether, but other reports, quoting unnamed sources at BlackBerry, say that the releases were still being planned.

The Valuable BBM

If the releases of the Android and iOS versions involve a great deal more development, BlackBerry could be weighing its options. The company wants to increase or at least maintain the value of its constituent parts, which will be important if the entire company is sold off or if it is broken apart and sold as components.

A $4.7 billion bid for the company has been made by Fairfax Financial Holdings, pending a due diligence period, and BlackBerry is also actively seeking out, or engaged in talks with, a variety of major technology companies about the possibility of a buyout, including Cisco, SAP, Samsung, LG, Intel, and Google.

One of the most valuable components in any sale could be the popular BBM. At one time, BlackBerry had considered setting up a subsidiary specifically to handle that service. There are an estimated 60 million active monthly users of the service, who spend an average of 90 minutes every day on BBM. But Fairfax has indicated that, if it is successful in its bid, it intends to re-orient BlackBerry toward the business market, which could leave a consumer-oriented property like BBM in doubt.

LOL BBM is not nearly as cool as we-chat and people can do more. BB got bored and can't believe that people still want to use BBM. Haha wake up. The time flies and if BB is going to be so cool then they will have to come up with something that will shock the world. And that I don't think will happen. Good luck hahaha.

BB Hater:

Posted: 2013-10-21 @ 7:24am PT

If blackberry cannot handle the traffic, then don't release it! With the excuse "because of unofficial release..." Why there was an unofficial release? BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T RELEASE THE OFFICIAL ONE ON TIME DAMMIT!!!

Kokopeli:

Posted: 2013-10-21 @ 6:52am PT

They should just release the iOS version if its ready and accept that Android is more challenging as it is for all developers.

Ray :

Posted: 2013-10-21 @ 6:52am PT

If you want it so much and really can’t wait, go buy a BB. Dammit man, you people make me sick. Complain, complain, that’s all you do..... Let them finish the app and when you receive it, you will have a damn good app. Rome wasn’t built in a day. You go BB..... I will wait for it.

Geronimo:

Posted: 2013-10-21 @ 4:16am PT

...And the downspiral doesn't stop for BlackBerry. It's clear that after BB saw the overwhelming response of the release (where it was released) they realized they were holding their last chip. Why not wait while your company is up for sale? Get the most money you can for a bleeding company at the expense of broken promises. I just hope that by the time they release this app it's not too late and everyone settled for whatsapp.

jojon:

Posted: 2013-10-21 @ 3:52am PT

Ha ha ha, this is a joke. RIM just talk!!

Armani:

Posted: 2013-10-21 @ 2:31am PT

This is really the best season's joke! People are waiting for this BBM for weeks and weeks. Every now and then we find in the news that BBM is coming in a few days... then in a few more days. I don't think it has anything to do with a software glitch. Look at Viber, Whatsapp, Line, etc. They belong to smaller software companies but their apps are working fine. I think BB wants to test how many people are interested in using it so they can do their math!! Really SAD!

CHRIS:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 10:02pm PT

bulls**t...from last week said will release within days...days is 1 - 6 days.... if 7 days is called 1 week...if 14 days is called 2 weeks...28 days is called 4 weeks...4 weeks is called 1 month...so on and so forth if you don't understand the terms of days and weeks

Lekan:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 1:41pm PT

I hope that this app won't be free....They should charge a small price of $1.00-$1.99. I would really hate to see every Jane and John on BBM. And a small price like that can really deter alot of people from buying the app. If they are interested in profits this can go either way. As a free app often has more downloads/users than a paid app and thus profit can be realized in the form of ads.... But if the reputation of BBM holds true, even by offering a paid version, they should still see a large consumer base. But another way out of it is to have a bbm free (with limited capabilities) and a bbm paid (with full capabilities).

ryan:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 9:00am PT

i have bbm on my iphone and it is great, they should bring it out now to be honest, won't be dissapointed.

Trigger:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 8:50am PT

"As active users neared a million...."
Come on, did Blackbery expect 10 users? Or 100 users? People are not stupid... Just admit you had a glitch in your systems, or you failed somewhere!!!

Rinaldy:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 7:19am PT

Are they kidding to make such an excuse over and over about that lame technical issues? Why don't they just say "we are so sorry for the delay because our servers cannot take all the heat and the enthusiasm of all bbm users on android and we will work it out." That's a more reasonable answer for it,
or do they just think all the people on the net are freakin idiots?

Syed Saqib:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 3:15am PT

BBM should hit other platforms. Yes it is one of BB's assets or whatever, but they should put it up for a specific version/versions.

annonymous:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 3:03am PT

Why did they pause bbm for iphone even though there's no problem?

Aleeyou chalawa:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 2:18am PT

We are still waiting........iUsers

Dezz:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 12:22am PT

Lolong, question, how can you be bankrupt when you don't owe anyone?

gwing:

Posted: 2013-10-20 @ 12:17am PT

BBM is already out on iOS here in Nigeria. It is what most people are using now, and it is real. I wish I could show u pictures. If u are a Nigerian and u need it, come to Covenant University.

lolong:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 11:14pm PT

you want to use blackberry device because of BBM and think other messenger apps suck? Well.... good luck with the near bankcrupt company smartphone then ...... And yeah, bb smartphone doesn't sell very well so too bad, they have to bring BBM across platform.

BBM Lover:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 11:13pm PT

Mark Rafferty - Cheap Android phone? You're got to be kidding me! Do you really think that all Android phones are cheap? Opening BBM to other platforms is probably the best thing that ever happened to BlackBerry, since BlackBerry!

Elio:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 11:01pm PT

This is a stupid reason from Bllackberry about the delay (unauthorized leaking of an Android version). Play store didn't release BBM. Someone shared it on Facebook and in some sites.

For me, Blackberry is running out from this project because they are not ready to serve all platforms on their server.
They don't have good IT to fix that? It needs only 1 week, but it has taken till now -- more than 3 months since their first news of release, 21 July.

OpenYourEyes:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 9:53pm PT

Mark Rafferty, you can't see BBM for other platforms? Did you not read the article and the thousands of others on the net over the last couple of months?

Patrice:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 6:59pm PT

I'm a recent android device user. I seriously considered going back to bb10 because of bbm. It's a much more superior messenger app than any other I've tried. I for one cannot wait for bbm to hit android. I'm literally waiting with baited breath.

eibel:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 6:36pm PT

Please BlackBerry, cancel the BBM for all other platforms. BBM is your best and most valuable application. Don't make it cheap. Just consider making a new model BB10, cheap and with all platform technology. Don't let others use your best technology.

Mark Rafferty:

Posted: 2013-10-19 @ 10:18am PT

Can't see BB bringing BBM to multi platforms. Why would BB kill off sales of handsets by allowing people to buy a cheap android handsets to use BBM? The die hard BBM users buy BB handsets just to BBM on. With so many used BB handsets out there maybe BB should consider an old phone trade in deal for new models.